“Outside my window a new day I see, and only I can determine what kind of day it will be.
It can be busy and sunny, laughing and gay, or boring and cold, unhappy and gray.
My own state of mind is the determining key, for I’m only the person I’ll let myself be.
I can be thoughtful and do all I can to help, or be selfish and think just of myself.
I can enjoy what I do and make it seem fun, or gripe and complain and make it hard on someone.
I can be patient with those who may not understand or belittle and hurt them as much as I can.
But I have faith in myself, and believe what I say, and I personally intend to make the best of each day.”
-Author Unknown
Photo credit: phanlop88 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
This week marks both the Jewish new year and my daughter’s seventeenth birthday. My children always learned in school that the Jewish New Year– which begins on Rosh Hashanah– is the birthday of the world. Renewal, fresh starts and inspiration immediately come to mind when I think of a new year or a birthday, but we don’t have to wait for the big moments to start over. Every day is an opportunity.
What kind of day will it be for you?
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Below is the poem we’ve read to our children every year on the night before their birthdays–and like every year I can’t get to the end of it without a tear falling. It’s unbelievable how fast time flies.
“A verse for the birthday girl on the night before her birthday:
When I have said my evening prayer,
And my clothes are folded on the chair,
And mother switches off the light,
I’ll still be 16 years old tonight.
But from the very break of day,
Before the children rise and play,
Before the darkness turns to gold,
Tomorrow, I’ll be 17 years old.
17 kisses when I wake,
17 candles on my cake!”*
*by M. Meyerkort found in Animal Crackers by Jane Deyer
Happy Birthday to my daughter and the world!
* * *
Special thanks to Laura B. for awarding me this:
Passing it forward by linking to the blogs that are new to me this week:
Have a great week!
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Those poems are lovely. Happy Birthday to your daughter
Thank you for the blog award! Your poem is beautiful. Happy Birthday to your daughter!
It really does go so fast. It sounds corny, but it’s true. Happy Birthday to your daughter and to you too for having brought her here.
I hope she has a beautiful birthday, thank you for sharing such a lovely post! Happy Happy Birthday!
Take care,
Lisa
You are so inspirational, lady! Happy Birthday to the daughter.
Great suggestion for the Sep Crush – and he’s definitely more age appropriate for me as well, except in Hollywood he doesn’t think so, as he’s with someone closer to Taylor Lautner’s age
What a lovely poem, and just so applicable for me today! Thanks for posting it! Happy birthday to your daughter too.
Without knowing about this, we spoke about it yesterday or last night. What a lovely post and something special for Chavi to carry with her always. xoxoxo Esther
What a sweet birthday poem! Thanks for sharing, and happy birthday to your daughter